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{{Short description|Bangladeshi academic}}
{{Short description|Bangladeshi academic (1942–2021)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
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| known_for          = institutionalisation of gender and women education in Bangladesh
| known_for          = institutionalisation of gender and women education in Bangladesh
| spouse            = [[Mainur Reza Chowdhury]]
| spouse            = [[Mainur Reza Chowdhury]]
| relatives = [[Murtaza Raza Choudhry]] (father-in-law)<br>[[Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry]] (uncle-in-law)
| discipline        = Women studies
| discipline        = Women studies
| alma_mater        = {{ubl|[[University of Dhaka]]|[[SOAS, University of London]]}}
| alma_mater        = {{ubl|[[University of Dhaka]]|[[SOAS, University of London]]}}
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}}
}}


'''Najma Chowdhury''' (26 February 1942 – 8 August 2021) was a Bangladeshi academic. She was a pioneer in establishing women studies in Bangladesh. She founded the Women and Gender Studies department of the [[University of Dhaka]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Workshop on gender begins|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/02/25/d70225062291.htm|accessdate=10 October 2016|work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]|date=25 February 2007}}</ref> She was an advisor to the first [[Habibur Rahman Cabinet|caretaker government]] in 1996.<ref name="bdnews24">{{cite web|title=Spotlight on former caretaker advisors|url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2013/10/21/spotlight-on-former-caretaker-advisors|website=bdnews24.com|accessdate=10 October 2016}}</ref> She was awarded the [[Ekushey Padak]], Bangladesh's second highest civilian honour, for research in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 February 2008 |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/cache/cached-news-details-24015.html |title=9 get Ekushey Padak 2008 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref>
'''Najma Chowdhury''' (26 February 1942 – 8 August 2021) was a Bangladeshi academic. She was a pioneer in establishing women studies in Bangladesh. She founded the Women and Gender Studies department of the [[University of Dhaka]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Workshop on gender begins|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/02/25/d70225062291.htm|accessdate=10 October 2016|work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]|date=25 February 2022}}</ref> She was an advisor to the first [[Habibur Rahman Cabinet|caretaker government]] in 1996.<ref name="bdnews24">{{cite web|title=Spotlight on former caretaker advisors|url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2013/10/21/spotlight-on-former-caretaker-advisors|website=bdnews24.com|accessdate=10 October 2022}}</ref> She was awarded the [[Ekushey Padak]], Bangladesh's second highest civilian honour, for research in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 February 2008 |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/cache/cached-news-details-24015.html |title=9 get Ekushey Padak 2008 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref>


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Chowdhury was born on 26 February 1942 in [[Sylhet]].<ref name="alo">{{cite news |last=Shiropa |first=Touhida |date=4 December 2010 |script-title=bn:কর্মে জীবন ভরা |trans-title=Life of works |url=http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-12-04/news/113158 |language=bn |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |location=Dhaka |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012035956/http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-12-04/news/113158 |archivedate=12 October 2016 |accessdate=12 October 2016}}</ref> She was the third child of Chowdhury Imamuzzaman and Amirunnesa Khatun after the death of their first two children. Her mother Amurunnesa Khatun was a homemaker while her father Chowdhury Imamuzzaman was a civil engineer.<ref name=":0" /> Her early schooling was in [[Assam]], then in British India. The family moved to [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]] when her father found a new job after independence from Britain when East Pakistan separated from India.<ref name="alo" />
Chowdhury was born on 26 February 1942 to a [[Bengali Muslim]] family in [[Sylhet]].<ref name="alo">{{cite news |last=Shiropa |first=Touhida |date=4 December 2010 |script-title=bn:কর্মে জীবন ভরা |trans-title=Life of works |url=http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-12-04/news/113158 |language=bn |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |location=Dhaka |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012035956/http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-12-04/news/113158 |archivedate=12 October 2016 |accessdate=12 October 2022}}</ref> She was the third child of Chowdhury Imamuzzaman and Amirunnesa Khatun after the death of their first two children. Her mother Amurunnesa Khatun was a homemaker while her father Chowdhury Imamuzzaman was a civil engineer.<ref name=":0" /> Her father was from the Chowdhury Bari of Pitua-Sadrabad in [[Nabiganj Upazila|Nabiganj]]. They were descendants of Shah Sadruddin Qureshi, a [[Quraysh]]ite associate of [[Shah Jalal]] who partook in the [[Conquest of Sylhet]] in 1303.<ref name=tar>{{citation|title=তরফের সৈয়দ বংশ ও লাকসাম নবাব পরিবার|date=30 June 2021|author=Ahmad, Syed Kamaluddin|language=bn}}</ref>
 
==Education==
Her early schooling was in [[Assam]], then in British India. The family moved to [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]] when her father found a new job after independence from Britain when East Pakistan separated from India.<ref name="alo" />


Chowdhury was admitted in class three into Bidya Mandir School in Dhaka. Then again in class four, she was admitted into PN Girls' School in Rajshahi. She passed her SSC [[Educational entrance examination#Pakistan|entrance]] exam from Kamrunnesa Girls' School in 1956. She stood eighth among girls in East Pakistan Secondary Education Board. She passed her [[Higher Secondary School Certificate|HSC]] from [[Holy Cross College, Dhaka]]. She stood ninth in the merit list in East Pakistan Higher Secondary Education Board.<ref name="alo"/>
Chowdhury was admitted in class three into Bidya Mandir School in Dhaka. Then again in class four, she was admitted into PN Girls' School in Rajshahi. She passed her SSC [[Educational entrance examination#Pakistan|entrance]] exam from Kamrunnesa Girls' School in 1956. She stood eighth among girls in East Pakistan Secondary Education Board. She passed her [[Higher Secondary School Certificate|HSC]] from [[Holy Cross College, Dhaka]]. She stood ninth in the merit list in East Pakistan Higher Secondary Education Board.<ref name="alo"/>


Chowdhury completed her graduation and post graduation in political science in [[University of Dhaka]].<ref name="star">{{cite news|title=Prof Najma Chowdhury honoured|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=52898|accessdate=10 October 2016|work=The Daily Star|date=2 September 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010194057/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=52898|archivedate=10 October 2016}}</ref> She played guitar for Bangladesh Betar before going to the United Kingdom for her [[PhD]].<ref name=":0" />
Chowdhury completed her graduation and post graduation in political science in [[University of Dhaka]].<ref name="star">{{cite news|title=Prof Najma Chowdhury honoured|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=52898|accessdate=10 October 2016|work=The Daily Star|date=2 September 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010194057/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=52898|archivedate=10 October 2022}}</ref> She played guitar for Bangladesh Betar before going to the United Kingdom for her [[PhD]].<ref name=":0" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
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Chowdhury started her career as a lecturer in the political science department in the University of Dhaka in 1963.<ref name="star"/> In 1966, she went on a [[Commonwealth Scholarship]] to [[School of Oriental and African Studies]] at the [[University of London]] to obtain her [[PhD]].<ref name="star" /> She returned to Bangladesh in 1972 and was the chairperson of political science department from 1984 to 1987. During her tenure in the department, she introduced courses related to women's empowerment and development into the curriculum. She also established the Centre for Women Studies, a research centre within the university.<ref name=":0" />
Chowdhury started her career as a lecturer in the political science department in the University of Dhaka in 1963.<ref name="star"/> In 1966, she went on a [[Commonwealth Scholarship]] to [[School of Oriental and African Studies]] at the [[University of London]] to obtain her [[PhD]].<ref name="star" /> She returned to Bangladesh in 1972 and was the chairperson of political science department from 1984 to 1987. During her tenure in the department, she introduced courses related to women's empowerment and development into the curriculum. She also established the Centre for Women Studies, a research centre within the university.<ref name=":0" />


Chowdhury served as a visiting scholar at [[University of Minnesota]] in 1988 under a [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright fellowship]] for three months.<ref name="alo" /> She was a friend of political scientist [[Barbara J. Nelson]]. The duo edited a book ''[[Women and Politics Worldwide]]'' in 1994 published by [[Yale University Press]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Women and Politics Worldwide|url=http://yalebooks.com/book/9780300054071/women-and-politics-worldwide|website=yalebooks.com|publisher=Yale University Press|accessdate=12 October 2016}}</ref> The book won the [[Victoria Schuck Award]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schwartz|first1=Larry|title=American Political Science Association Victoria Schuck award|url=http://web.mnstate.edu/schwartz/AmerPoliSciAssocSchuck.html|website=web.mnstate.edu|accessdate=12 October 2016}}</ref> The [[American Political Science Association]] called the book the best book for 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Dhaka University|last2=bdnews24.com|title=Najma Chowdhury, an Ekushey Padak-winning professor, dies of COVID at 79|url=https://bdnews24.com/people/2021/08/08/najma-chowdhury-an-ekushey-padak-winning-professor-dies-of-covid-at-79|access-date=9 August 2021|website=bdnews24.com}}</ref>
Chowdhury served as a visiting scholar at [[University of Minnesota]] in 1988 under a [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright fellowship]] for three months.<ref name="alo" /> She was a friend of political scientist [[Barbara J. Nelson]]. The duo edited a book ''[[Women and Politics Worldwide]]'' in 1994 published by [[Yale University Press]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Women and Politics Worldwide|url=http://yalebooks.com/book/9780300054071/women-and-politics-worldwide|newspaper=Yale University Press|accessdate=12 October 2022}}</ref> The book won the [[Victoria Schuck Award]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schwartz|first1=Larry|title=American Political Science Association Victoria Schuck award|url=http://web.mnstate.edu/schwartz/AmerPoliSciAssocSchuck.html|website=web.mnstate.edu|accessdate=12 October 2022}}</ref> The [[American Political Science Association]] called the book the best book for 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Correspondent|first1=Dhaka University|last2=bdnews24.com|title=Najma Chowdhury, an Ekushey Padak-winning professor, dies of COVID at 79|url=https://bdnews24.com/people/2021/08/08/najma-chowdhury-an-ekushey-padak-winning-professor-dies-of-covid-at-79|access-date=9 August 2021|website=bdnews24.com}}</ref>


She served as Bangladesh's representative at the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in 1978 and 1986. During this period she was also a participant at the [[UNESCO#General Conference|UNESCO general conference]] in Belgrade in 1980, the [[Fourth World Conference on Women#Third World Conference on Women.2C Nairobi.2C 1985|World Conference on Women]] in [[Nairobi]] in 1985 and the [[Fourth World Conference on Women#Preceding the Fourth World Conference on Women.2C Beijing.2C 1995|Fourth World Conference on Women]] in Beijing in 1995.<ref name="alo" /><ref name=":0" />
She served as Bangladesh's representative at the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in 1978 and 1986. During this period she was also a participant at the [[UNESCO#General Conference|UNESCO general conference]] in Belgrade in 1980, the [[Fourth World Conference on Women#Third World Conference on Women.2C Nairobi.2C 1985|World Conference on Women]] in [[Nairobi]] in 1985 and the [[Fourth World Conference on Women#Preceding the Fourth World Conference on Women.2C Beijing.2C 1995|Fourth World Conference on Women]] in Beijing in 1995.<ref name="alo" /><ref name=":0" />


She helped establish the Women and Gender Studies department in the [[University of Dhaka]] in 2000. Chowdhury joined the department as a professor in 2003 and later served as chairperson. She was also [[professor emeritus]] at the university.<ref name="star"/> Through her contributions for women's empowerment and development studies she was considered an inspiration for the women of Bangladesh.<ref name=":0" /> Her 2010 book ''Of Mangroves and Monsters'' chronicled women's participation in Bangladesh's political institutions and policy-making bodies and explored their peripheral involvement and marginalisation. She used this to study the paradoxical nature of women's participation despite having women as the country's heads of government for over two decades.<ref>{{Cite book|last=1942-|first=Caudhurī, Nājamā|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/837790838|title=Of mangroves and monsters : women's political participation and women's studies in Bangladesh|date=2010|publisher=Dept. of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka|isbn=978-984-8866-15-3|oclc=837790838}}</ref> Her research further studied systemic discrimination within institutions that disadvantaged women across professions and across cultures and class divides.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Of Mangroves and Monsters: Women's Political Participation and Women's Studies in Bangladesh|url=https://pathakshamabesh.com/product/of-mangroves-and-monsters-womens-political-participation-and-womens-studies-in-bangladesh/|access-date=10 August 2021|website=Pathak Shamabesh|language=en-US}}</ref>
She helped establish the Women and Gender Studies department in the [[University of Dhaka]] in 2000. Chowdhury joined the department as a professor in 2003 and later served as chairperson. She was also [[professor emeritus]] at the university.<ref name="star"/> Through her contributions for women's empowerment and development studies she was considered an inspiration for the women of Bangladesh.<ref name=":0" /> Her 2010 book ''Of Mangroves and Monsters'' chronicled women's participation in Bangladesh's political institutions and policy-making bodies and explored their peripheral involvement and marginalisation. She used this to study the paradoxical nature of women's participation despite having women as the country's heads of government for over two decades.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Caudhurī, Nājamā|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/837790838|title=Of mangroves and monsters : women's political participation and women's studies in Bangladesh|date=2010|publisher=Dept. of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka|isbn=978-984-8866-15-3|oclc=837790838}}</ref> Her research further studied systemic discrimination within institutions that disadvantaged women across professions and across cultures and class divides.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Of Mangroves and Monsters: Women's Political Participation and Women's Studies in Bangladesh|url=https://pathakshamabesh.com/product/of-mangroves-and-monsters-womens-political-participation-and-womens-studies-in-bangladesh/|access-date=10 August 2021|website=Pathak Shamabesh|language=en-US}}</ref>


=== Politics and non-profit ===
=== Politics and non-profit ===
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== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Chowdhury married [[Mainur Reza Chowdhury]] in 1961. Mainur Reza Chowdhury was a student of the English department in the University of Dhaka at that time. He later went on to become the [[Chief Justice of Bangladesh]]. He died in 2004.<ref name="alo"/> The couple had two daughters Lamiya Chowdhury and Bushra Hasina Chowdhury. The latter is a teacher with [[Dhaka University]]'s International Relations department.<ref name=":0" />
In 1961, Chowdhury married [[Mainur Reza Chowdhury]], son of the former Finance Minister [[Murtaza Raza Choudhry]] of the [[Shibganj Upazila, Chapai Nawabganj|Monakosha]] ''[[zamindar]]'' family.<ref name=tar/> Chowdhury was a student of the English department in the University of Dhaka at that time. He later went on to become the [[Chief Justice of Bangladesh]]. He died in 2004.<ref name="alo"/> The couple had two daughters Lamiya Chowdhury and Bushra Hasina Chowdhury. The latter is a teacher with [[Dhaka University]]'s International Relations department.<ref name=":0" />


Chowdhury died on 8 August 2021, in a hospital in Dhaka from [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff Correspondent|title=Educationist Nazma Chowdhury passes away|url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/city/educationist-nazma-chowdhury-passes-away|access-date=8 August 2021|website=Prothomalo|language=en}}</ref> She was 79.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Rubel|first=Sirajul Islam|date=9 August 2021|title=Prof Najma Chowdhury passes away|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/prof-najma-chowdhury-passes-away-2148051|access-date=9 August 2021|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> She is buried at the [[Banani graveyard]] in Dhaka.<ref name=":0" />
Chowdhury died on 8 August 2021, at a hospital in Dhaka from [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Staff Correspondent|title=Educationist Nazma Chowdhury passes away|url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/city/educationist-nazma-chowdhury-passes-away|access-date=8 August 2021|website=Prothomalo|language=en}}</ref> She was 79.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Rubel|first=Sirajul Islam|date=9 August 2021|title=Prof Najma Chowdhury passes away|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/prof-najma-chowdhury-passes-away-2148051|access-date=9 August 2021|website=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> She is buried at the [[Banani graveyard]] in Dhaka.<ref name=":0" />


== Published works ==
== Published works ==
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[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Holy Cross College, Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:Holy Cross College, Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:People from Sylhet District]]
[[Category:People from Nabiganj Upazila]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi people of Arab descent]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka faculty]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka faculty]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota faculty]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota faculty]]
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